JOYCE OLIVE GIGUN

At age 81, Joy passed away after a short struggle from the complications of a severe stroke, which she had suffered nine years earlier. After her stroke, Joy struggled indomitably to regain her strength, spirit, humour and personal dignity. Her family cherishes her memory and already misses her deeply. Our words can’t begin to express our sorrow and our sense of loss.

Joy was predeceased by her parents Lillian and Ernest Yearsley, second husband Jack Gigun, and stepdaughter Beverly Gigun. She will be lovingly missed by her children David (Audette), Paul (Imelda), Jane, Anita, and Rob (Melanie), grandchildren Heidi, Carl, Adrian, Jordan, Christina, Sam and Emily and step grandchildren Sebastien and Edith.

Joy came as a war bride from London, England to Nanaimo, where she was later joined by her sisters Beryl (Albert), Audrey (George) and Barbara (Ole). Lillian and Ernest Yearsley were the devoted and loving parents of Joy and her three sisters. Joy, her parents and sisters formed a strong family network and worked hard to overcome the many difficulties of finding employment and raising families in a new and challenging country.

Our mother was and always will be a true inspiration for all of us. In addition to raising a family of five children, Joy provided support to our cousins John, Cathy, and Sherron when their mother Betty was ill.

In addition to taking care of her family, Joy ran a dancing school. Later, in conjunction with her sisters, she became a hotelier, running very successful businesses in Nanaimo, Comox, Cassidy, and Port Alberni. She was an active member of the communities in which she worked, participating in numerous charitable causes, particularly those that helped the poor and disadvantaged.

All her life Joy gave to everyone without the need to receive. She was a true inspiration for all that knew her.

A special thank you to the staff and residents at Dufferin Place Extended Care who became Joy’s second family, for their care, love and support over the last decade.

A service was be held Friday, February 13, 2009 at 1:00 pm at Sands Funeral Chapel, 1 Newcastle Avenue, Nanaimo, BC.

Sands ~ Nanaimo – 250-753-2032

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